Adding A Business Machine to A Home Network

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Gregory
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J

John Gregory

This may be a bit much to expect since this probably is more suitable to a
Dell forum - if there is one - but I try anyway. My home network is fed from
cable to modem to router then to three computers, two of which are running
firewalls. They all run different OP systems, the oldest without the
firewall runs WIN 95 and is used principally to answer the phone and store
graphics on a zip drive. The next oldest is a Gateway portable that runs
WIN98SE. The newest is a DELL that runs WINDOWS XP HE. Now the question.



I'm considering a bit on a DELL GX240 that's described as an "Optiplex"
machine for a business environment. It appears it is designed to allow an IT
administrator the ability to control various features of the machines like
port and keyboard access if I've read correctly. The CPU, though a desktop,
looks awfully small. just big enough to allow a monitor to set on top. And
it appears to have a lock across the face to prevent access if desired.
Question: Does this appear to be something I can just plug into my home
network and expect to run hassle free or will this require the skill of a IT
administrator to install? I believe it runs WINDOWS XP Professional.
 
This may be a bit much to expect since this probably is more suitable to a
Dell forum - if there is one - but I try anyway. My home network is fed from
cable to modem to router then to three computers, two of which are running
firewalls. They all run different OP systems, the oldest without the
firewall runs WIN 95 and is used principally to answer the phone and store
graphics on a zip drive. The next oldest is a Gateway portable that runs
WIN98SE. The newest is a DELL that runs WINDOWS XP HE. Now the question.



I'm considering a bit on a DELL GX240 that's described as an "Optiplex"
machine for a business environment. It appears it is designed to allow an IT
administrator the ability to control various features of the machines like
port and keyboard access if I've read correctly. The CPU, though a desktop,
looks awfully small. just big enough to allow a monitor to set on top. And
it appears to have a lock across the face to prevent access if desired.
Question: Does this appear to be something I can just plug into my home
network and expect to run hassle free or will this require the skill of a IT
administrator to install? I believe it runs WINDOWS XP Professional.
Click to expand...

John,

If these various control features can be avoided, or disabled, and if the
computer runs Windows XP, then you should be able to plug it in and run it. If
the features get in the way, it's hard to say. Why are you considering this?
Is it for the extra features, or are the extra features incidental?
 
Hi Chuck. Thanks for the help. I don't care about those administrator
features. The machine is surplus to a county office and I'm considering
bidding (not "bit"ting on it as originally reported.) There's little known
about it except model number. I searched for data on Dell's site and in
general. Couldn't find a thumbnail sketch. I assume this machine was part of
an in-house network. It may be too risky a gamble for me. Although I'm
confident I could work my way out of the entanglement (setting it up
properly via necessary adjustments) it would take more time than I want to
devote; I'm a user, not a guru.
 
Hi Chuck. Thanks for the help. I don't care about those administrator
features. The machine is surplus to a county office and I'm considering
bidding (not "bit"ting on it as originally reported.) There's little known
about it except model number. I searched for data on Dell's site and in
general. Couldn't find a thumbnail sketch. I assume this machine was part of
an in-house network. It may be too risky a gamble for me. Although I'm
confident I could work my way out of the entanglement (setting it up
properly via necessary adjustments) it would take more time than I want to
devote; I'm a user, not a guru.
Click to expand...

Depending upon what parts it has inside, and how high you have to bid, sounds
like a decent product.
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,80303,tfg,tfg,00.asp

I have 2 Dells, this one is about like my #1 system, 2 or 3 years old, P4. I
can't see any reason why it would be any harder than any other Windows XP Pro
system to setup. If you have an XP Home system already, you'll probably end up
enabling Simple File Sharing anyway. You might find my article useful.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html>
 
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